US Department of Transportation awards Norwegian Air International with a foreign carrier permit

Norwegian Air International confirmed (03-Dec-2016) it has been awarded with a foreign carrier permit from the US Department of Transportation. The carrier said, "This approval finally makes it possible for us to plan the Cork to the US routes we, and many others, have been looking forward to. We also now look forward to our foreign carrier permit for Norwegian Air UK being approved next. The foreign carrier permit enables the following:

• Foreign scheduled and charter air transportation of persons, property, and mail from any point or points behind any Member State of the European Union, via any point or points in any Member State and via intermediate points to any point or points in the United States and beyond;
• Foreign scheduled and charter air transportation of persons, property, and mail between any point or points in the United States and any point or points in any member of the European Common Aviation Area;
• Foreign scheduled and charter air transportation of cargo between any point or points in the United States and any other point or points;
• Other charters pursuant to the prior approval requirements set forth in 14 CFR Part 212 of the Department's regulations.

The DoT decision said, "Regardless of our appreciation of the public policy arguments raised by opponents, we have been advised that the law and our bilateral obligations leave us no avenue to reject this application". [more - original PR Norwegian] [more - original PR US DoT]